Zenos is an outstanding provider of apprenticeship training
"In the space of a few short years we've grown from a small training company with 25 learners to become the UK's leading provider of IT Apprenticeships, part of the UK's leading vocational training plc and the largest Microsoft Training Academy in Europe."
With headquarters in Aynho near Banbury, and a network of Zenos training centres that covers the country, Zenos currently trains thousands of young people every year and employs around 400 people as at September 2011.
We deliver training to people under the National Apprenticeship Service scheme funded by the Skills Funding Agency.
In addition to the Advanced Apprenticeship qualification that our learners study for we also provide internationally recognised Vendor qualifications (such as Microsoft and CompTIA).
Zenos IT Training Centres - A Unique Resource
A national network of more than 30 Zenos training centres deliver a unique Apprenticeship programme, funded by the SFA, to young people aged 16 to 24 wanting to take their first steps in a career in the IT industry.
Exceptional Rates of Success
Zenos learners achieve a pass rate in excess of 93% for our IT Systems Support & Services, and IT Software Development programmes; (the national average is just over 40%) and the quality of our training, management and infrastructure are recognised by the growing number of industry awards and accreditations that we continue to receive.
Getting Your Foot on the Employment Ladder
The Pearson in Practice ATA, employs Zenos apprentices from the start of the 39 week programme apprenticeship programme. Pearson in Practice ATA has a team of over 40 people who help find employers for our learners to complete the workplace and on-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship. These roles will typically result in full time employment at the end of the apprenticeship programme. The Pearson in Practice ATA team has strong links with many of the UK's leading employers of IT professionals and works with learners who have not found employment at the end of the apprenticeship to secure a permanent role.
An Outstanding IT Training Provider
In the summer of 2008 the Zenos programme was inspected by Ofsted - the Government's Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills who inspect education and training for learners of all ages. Ofsted carries out hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits each week, and their report on us concluded that in every key area of inspection The Zenos Programme was judged to be "Outstanding."
The Zenos programme is also accredited by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service as a Beacon Status provider which identifies and recognises the very best providers of the further education and skills sector.
Pearson
The Zenos programme benefits from the backing and resources of Pearson who acquired Zenos in the summer of 2010 to form a subsidiary within its global Education business and that represented two thirds of Pearson's £5.6 billion annual sales last year.
The rationale for acquiring Zenos was very clear - to add real strength to the overall educational offering, being at the heart of vocational and professional training. Future plans are to explore the potential of extending the Zenos model into other disciplines as well as to territories outside of the UK.
An interview with Rona Fairhead, Chief Executive of the FT Group is available to watch by clicking here.
